20188102018788201239214CFFB25134FFE1FFC6F4538A421B486F7FD9E2-E936-440D-9CD5-42D6F8961D2F30420182452018Lars G. Crabo, Paul C. Hammond, Tomas Mustelin, David L. WikleThis is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.Abstract

Six new species and one new subspecies of Noctuidae are described from western United States of America and Baja California, Mexico: Dolocuculliapoolei Crabo & Hammond, sp. n. (Cuculliinae), Plagiomimicusyakama Crabo & Wikle, sp. n., Plagiomimicusyakamamojave Wikle & Crabo, ssp. n., Plagiomimicusincomitatus Mustelin, sp. n. (Amphipyrinae), Sympistisferrirena Crabo, sp. n. (Oncocnemidinae), Aseptisharpi Crabo & Mustelin, sp. n., and Hypotrixlactomellis Wikle & Crabo, sp. n. (Noctuinae). The adults and genitalia of these species are described, illustrated, and compared to similar related moths. The larvae of the Plagiomimicustepperi species group, unknown previously, are reported to feed on several species of Brickellia Ell. (Asteraceae). The early stages of Plagiomimicusyakamamojave are described and late instars are illustrated.

Crabo LG, Hammond PC, Mustelin T, Wikle DL (2018) Six new species and one new subspecies of noctuid moths from western United States of America and Mexico (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae). In: Schmidt BC, Lafontaine JD (Eds) Contributions to the systematics of New World macro-moths VII. ZooKeys 788: 201–239. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.788.26282

Introduction

Undescribed species of moths are still found with regularity in North America north of Mexico. This is especially true in the American West. As part of the continuing effort to document the moth fauna of the region we describe five new species and one new subspecies from four different noctuid subfamilies from the United States, mostly from the Southwest and Pacific Coast states. An additional Mexican species of Plagiomimicus Grote (Amphipyrinae) belonging to the same species-group as other new taxa in this paper is also described.

The species named in this paper are not related closely, but all belong to genera that have been revised since the mid-1990s and are not in need of sweeping changes. It is reasonable, therefore, to combine the descriptions into a single work in the “Contributions to the Systematics of New World Macro-moths” series. In order to provide appropriate context, this paper is organized phylogenetically and the taxon descriptions are preceded by short introductions to the pertinent genera.

In addition to the new species descriptions, early stages of the Plagiomimicustepperi species group, to which the new Plagiomimicus taxa in this paper belong, are reported for the first time. Several species in this species-group have been reared by DLW and are described as they pertain to the new taxa.

Materials and methods

Wing pattern and genitalia structure terminology follow Lafontaine (2004). A dark ovoid spot between the postmedial and subterminal lines on the forewing costa of some Stiriini is herein referred to as the “subapical spot.” In Aseptis McDunnough, a pale marking straddling the postmedial line distal to the reniform stigma is referred to as the postreniform patch (Mustelin and Crabo 2015).

Forewing lengths are measured to the nearest half-millimeter from base to apex, excluding the fringe.

Genitalia were prepared using standard methods (Hardwick 1950, Lafontaine 2004). Detached abdomens were macerated in hot 10% potassium hydroxide for 20–40 minutes. Dissection was performed initially in water, or a 70 : 30 water : ethanol mixture, followed by hardening in isopropyl alcohol. Male vesicas and female bursae were inflated. Preparations were stained with orcein (Sigma Chemical Company, St. Louis, Missouri) and mounted in Euparal (Bioquip Products Inc., Rancho Dominguez, California) on glass slides. Genitalia preparations of male Sympistis and Plagiomimicusincomitatus are from USNM and are stained differently with an unknown dye.

The 658 base pair DNA “barcode region” of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) (barcode) was used to assess molecular variation. Legs from dried specimens submitted to the Barcodes of Life Data Systems (BOLD) at the University of Guelph (Ontario, Canada) were analyzed by standard DNA extraction, amplification, and sequencing protocols (Hebert et al. 2003). Barcode sequences were compared to pre-existing material at BOLD using the Kimura-2-Parameter distance model as implemented on the Barcodes of Life Data Systems website (http://www.barcodinglife.org). The seven-unit BOLD Barcode Index Number (BIN) (Ratnasingham and Hebert 2013) is given in parentheses when known.

Distribution maps were made using SimpleMappr (http://simplemappr.net).

Poole (1995) described Dolocucullia for two species from western United States and Mexico, Dolocuculliadentilinea (Smith, 1899) and Dolocuculliaminor (Barnes & McDunnough, 1913), noting that there are additional species in Central and South America. The genus resembles Cucullia Schrank in general appearance and structure. Males differ from Cucullia in that the cornuti on the vesica are globular instead of spikelike. In Dolocucullia females, there is a sclerite between the ovipositor lobes, lacking in Cucullia, and the ductus seminalis joins the corpus bursae at the posterior rather than the anterior end (op. cit.).

A relatively common Dolocucullia in the coastal Pacific Northwest region has until now been referred to as D.dentilinea. The recent discovery of D.dentilinea in eastern Oregon and Idaho led PCH to wonder if the disjunct coastal and inland populations could be different species. Independently, JD Lafontaine alerted LGC to large barcode differences between Dolocucullia’s from the Rocky Mountain and West Coast regions. Consistent differences in structure and habitus confirm that these populations are different species. The West Coast species is described herein.

A key to the three species of Dolocucullia found in the United States is presented below. Dolocuculliaminor and D.dentilinea species accounts are presented in Poole (1995).

Dolocuculliapoolei sp. n. (Figs 1–4) is similar to Dolocuculliadentilinea (Figs 5, 6), both in habitus and structure. Since they are allopatric, specimens can be assigned to species by locality: those from California, Oregon west of the Cascade crest, and Washington are D.poolei and those from east of California and central Oregon are D.dentilinea. Both are distinguished easily from Dolocuculliaminor, found in Texas, by hindwing color, white in D.minor and darker gray in the others.

Dolocuculliapoolei and D.dentilinea are similar, but can usually be identified without dissection. The forewing lines of D.poolei are less distinct than those of D.dentilinea, appearing out of focus, whereas those of D.dentilinea are thin and crisp. The antemedial and postmedial lines of D.poolei are strongly zigzagged, joining once or twice across the medial area. Those of D.dentilinea are usually separate. The black spot near the tornus, conspicuous in D.poolei, is absent or small and faint in D.dentilinea, especially in males. The hindwing base is darker in D.poolei than in D.dentilinea, gray with a luteous cast in the former and nearly white in the latter. A typical D.dentilinea is shown as Figure 5; Figure 6 demonstrates an uncommonly-patterned female with fused lines and a tornal spot.

Structurally, males of D.poolei (Figure 7) and D.dentilinea (Figure 8) are similar. Both have a two-pronged clasper with medial and lateral spikes, clasper single in D.minor. Compared to D.dentilinea, D.poolei has wider valve base, more cephalad orientation of the base of the lateral ampulla spike, a shorter medial ampulla spike, and a smaller cucullus with fewer coronal setae. The width of the mid-sacculus divided by the width of the distal valve is greater than two in D.poolei (2.2–2.3), less than two in D.dentilinea (1.6–1.8). The vesicas are similar, but the left-sided diverticulum of the vesica is larger and the apical “sclerotized globule” of D.poolei is smaller than the corresponding structures of D.dentilinea.

The female corpus bursae of D.poolei (Figure 9) is slightly wider and shorter than that of D.dentilinea (Figure 10). The ratio of length to width is less than three in D.poolei, greater than that in D.dentilinea. Posterior segment A8 has convex lateral margins on each side of the ostium in D.poolei, forming a shallow “M,” but is nearly straight in D.dentilinea.

Coastal D.poolei (Figs 1, 2) are uniform slightly bluish gray. Sierra Nevada populations (Figs 3, 4) are mottled whitish gray with contrasting dark markings. The barcodes of these populations are not significantly different. Specimens from the Sierra Nevada are excluded from the type series because of these differences.

Etymology.

The name honors Robert Poole for his work on the Noctuidae of North America. He laid the groundwork for the Dolocucullia and Plagiomimicus descriptions in this paper.

Distribution and ecology.

Dolocuculliapoolei occurs near the Pacific Coast from southern California to the tip of the Olympic Peninsula, Washington (Figure 48). It is most common in the California and Oregon Coast Ranges, with records as far inland as the Oregon Cascade Range. It is restricted to the immediate coast in Washington. An apparently disjunct population occurs in the Sierra Nevada, California.

Dolocuculliapoolei occurs in a variety of habitats, including conifer forest, coastal chaparral, and dry mountain chaparral. It has a long flight season, from as early as March in southern California to as late as August in the Pacific Northwest. The Sierra Nevada population flies at high elevation near timberline during mid- to late summer. Dolocuculliapoolei is unusual for a noctuid in that females are collected at lights as often as males. The early stages are unknown.

Discussion.

Draudt (in Seitz 1924) named Cuculliadentilineaformmexicanus Draudt, 1924 and Cuculliaemungens Draudt, 1924. The type localities for both is “Mexico.” Form mexicanus describes specimens with “rusty yellow spots” found amongst more typical Mexican specimens of D.dentilinea that had been compared by Draudt to material from Arizona and Colorado. The Mexican Draudt types are destroyed according to Poole (1995). Illustrations of both taxa have been examined in Seitz (1924) to ensure that neither name applies to the species named D.poolei herein.

The barcode difference of 8 % between D.poolei and D.dentilinea is large for congeneric noctuids, and somewhat surprising given the similarity of the adult moths.

The Stiriini of North America north of Mexico were revised by Poole (1995). These generally attractive moths are found mostly in the southwest United States and Mexico. They have a short tubular male vesica with basal and mesial patches of spine-like cornuti, a frontal process with a raised outer ring and central cone, a reduced scale-like larval spinneret, and adaptations to desert habitats including a distal foretibial claw (op. cit.). The known larvae feed on flowers of Asteraceae. The female ovipositor lobes are sclerotized strongly and pointed, likely for inserting eggs into buds or flowers.

Many of the genera in the tribe are similar. Females of Plagiomimicus Grote, the largest genus in the tribe, have modified ovipositor lobes and lack clear areas on sternite A8 or an invagination of the ostium bursae found in related genera. Males typically have a simple valve with a weak setal corona, a rod-like basal process of the sacculus, and a short ampulla of the clasper from the ventral distal valve (Poole 1995).

Plagiomimicustepperi Morrison, 1875 and related species form a species-group distinguished by an elongate central process of the frontal tubercle and loss of the corona of the valve and the basal patch of cornuti of the vesica of the male genitalia (Poole 1995). Members of the species-group are small (forewing length 9–15 mm) and have smooth pale grayish green to ochre-yellow forewings with even white transverse lines and faint to dark subapical spots. Poole recognized two similar species in this group from the United States, P.tepperi and Plagiomimicusmimica Poole, 1995, and mentioned an undescribed central Mexican species.

Poole (1995) considered P.tepperi, type locality Texas, to be a widespread and geographically variable species. Under his broad concept of the species, the westernmost populations differ from topotypical populations in color and pattern, either grayer (Pacific Northwest) or paler (Great Basin and California). Poole discussed and illustrated the Washington State population, noting that it differs from nominate P.tepperi in habitus and the genitalia of both sexes. Despite this, he maintained this population as P.tepperi, arguing that P.tepperi is a variable moth and that these differences fall within its range of variation.

More recently, the barcodes of the Washington and pale southern populations were found to be nearly identical, and these differ from the barcode of southeastern Arizona P.tepperi by a magnitude similar to the difference between those of P.tepperi and P.mimica. This provides new evidence that these western Plagiomimicus populations are a different species than P.tepperi. Herein we confirm the structural and superficial differences between these moths, naming the Columbia Basin moth Plagiomimicusyakama sp. n., and the southern populations with the same barcode and structure as a subspecies of it, Plagiomimicusyakamamojave ssp. n. When these new taxa are removed from P.tepperi it becomes a more uniform entity in appearance, structure, and barcodes.

No early stages of the P.tepperi species-group were known at the time of Poole’s revision. DLW has discovered that the larvae of these moths feed on flowers and seed heads of brickellbushes, Brickellia Ell. (Asteraceae). Each species appears to be a specialist on one or a few species in the genus.

TM found at SDMC another new Plagiomimicus species from Baja California Sur, Mexico, belonging to the same species group. It is also named herein.

The key to the Stiriini in the MONA fascicle (as Stiriinae) (Poole 1995: 81–85) is not readily modified to include the new taxa. A key to the named North American species in the Plagiomimicustepperi species-group is presented below. Plagiomimicustepperi and P.mimica species accounts are given in Poole (1995).

Plagiomimicusyakama (Figs 11–13) is distinguished from the two other species in the P.tepperi species-group found in the United States in having an inconspicuous subapical spot, not darker than the adjacent medial area. Fresh P.tepperi (Figure 14) and P.mimica (not shown) are greener than P.yakama. Plagiomimicusincomitatus sp. n. (Figs 15, 16), only found in Mexico, has a dark smudged reniform stigma unlike the pale or absent stigma of P.yakama.

The ampullae of the male valve of P.yakama (Figs 17a, 18a) are nearly symmetrical, short and needlelike, arising perpendicular to the valve or at a slight angle. Those of P.tepperi (Figure 19a) and P.mimica (not shown) are longer, curved, and directed distad. Those of P.mimica are also asymmetrical. The female of P.yakama (Figure 21) has a longer and more strongly curved corpus bursae than P.tepperi (Figure 22).

The barcodes of P.yakama (BOLD:ACR9301) and P.tepperi (BOLD:AAF2198) differ by at least 1.63 %.

The name refers to the Yakama people, the original human inhabitants of the type locality of this moth. It is a noun in apposition. The spelling of the Yakama Nation differs from the more familiar spellings of the city of Yakima and Yakima County, Washington.

Distribution and ecology.

Plagiomimicusyakama is found in two separate parts of the American West (Figure 49). The nominate subspecies occurs on the Columbia Plateau. Subspecies Plagiomimicusyakamamojave is found 1000 km farther south in the southern Great Basin and Mojave Desert.

This moth flies in dry desert habitats with exposed soil and rocks, favoring those with varied topography such as rim rock, coulees, and arroyos. Where known, the larva of P.yakama feeds on Brickellia species. The larva of subspecies P.y.mojave is described below.

Adults fly during spring, from April to June, in all parts of the range. Southern populations have at least a partial fall brood.

Syntypes of Schiniatepperi Morrison, 1875 at MSU and the holotype of its synonym Plagiomimicusrichii Grote, 1886 at NHML, both described from “Texas”, match examined material of Plagiomimicustepperi from Texas, New Mexico, and southeastern and central Arizona. When restricted to these populations P.tepperi is uniform in habitus and structure. Barcodes of P.tepperi from southeast Arizona (n = 6) and New Mexico (n = 1) differ by 0.3 %. Barcodes of topotypical Texas populations have not been sampled. The range of P.tepperi extends northwards to Colorado.

In naming P.yakama and restricting P.tepperi in the above sense, the species in the P.tepperi species-group become more uniform well defined entities. However, ongoing rearing and molecular work by DLW and David Wagner suggest that there could be additional unrecognized cryptic species.

Subspecies P.y.yakama (Figure 11) is darker and greener than P.y.mojave (Figs 12, 13), and the pale areas of the forewing are grayer. The postmedial line of the nominate subspecies is angled slightly basad on the cubital vein, straight or slightly convex in P.y.mojave. Other differences are described under P.y.mojave. No significant differences exist in the male or female genitalia. Barcodes of the two subspecies differ by 0.3 percent, similar to intraspecies variation in P.tepperi and less than interspecies differences in the species-group (1.5 to 2.6 %).

Distribution and ecology.

The nominate subspecies occurs in the Columbia Plateau ecoregion (Figure 49) and is the most northerly of all P.tepperi species-group taxa. All Pacific Northwest records are from close to the 120th parallel, from Vantage, Washington to southern Wheeler County, Oregon.

Plagiomimicusy.yakama is single brooded and flies during late spring and early summer. Its early stages are unknown, but the most likely food plant in Washington is Brickelliaoblongifolia Nutt. based on the presence of this plant near populations of the moth in Grant and Kittitas counties (pnwherbaria.org [accessed 23 January, 2018]).

Subspecies P.y.mojave (Figs 12, 13) is pale olivaceous ochre tan, appearing paler, yellower, and more “washed-out” than the nominate subspecies. Dark areas of the forewing are tan rather than olive, less contrasting than in P.y.yakama (Figure 11), and the subapical spot is vaguely darker than the adjacent wing if visible at all. Most specimens lack angulation of the postmedial line on the cubital vein resulting in a wider medial area than in P.y.yakama. The antemedial and postmedial lines of darker specimens are two toned, tan on the medial-area side, whereas those of P.y.yakama are pale. The forewing apex tends to be most pointed in this subspecies. No significant genitalia structural differences are evident between the subspecies.

Plagiomimicusy.mojave is most likely to be confused with P.tepperi (Figure 14), the western range of which approaches to within 135 km of P.y.mojave in northwestern Arizona. In addition to structural characters noted in the P.yakama description Plagiomimicustepperi is distinguished by slightly falcate forewing apex and a dark shade preceding the subterminal line. Differences between P.y.mojave and P.incomitatus (Figs 15, 16) are described under the latter species, though it is unlikely that these moths occur together.

Description.

Adult. Males and females similar in size and habitus. Head. Structure and vestiture similar to P.y.yakama, paler. Thorax. Dorsum pale yellow tan. Wings: Forewing: Length 11.0–14.5 mm; apex more pointed than in P.y.yakama; scales pale yellow and light tan; uniform pale yellowish tan outside medial area, subterminal area and subapical spot slightly darker in some specimens; medial area darker olivaceous yellow-tan, usually slightly darker on posterior ½; cubital vein slightly lighter basal to postmedial line in some specimens; basal and medial lines absent; antemedial and postmedial lines off-white, bordered by tan in medial area in dark specimens; antemedial line oblique from mid-costa to inner ⅓ of posterior margin, straight; postmedial line similar to nominate subspecies, but slightly convex near cell; subterminal line pale off-white, only visible in dark specimens; terminal line thin, tan, evident on anterior ½; subapical spot indistinct or absent, lighter than medial area when present; fringe same as terminal area; stigmata typically absent, reniform stigma occasionally a bar of few pale scales. Hindwing: Uniform pale yellowish gray, slightly darker on basal ½; fringe off-white. Abdomen. Paler than for P.y.yakama. Male genitalia and female genitalia: as for P.y.yakama.

Etymology.

The name refers to the distribution of this moth in and near the Mojave Desert. It is a noun in apposition.

Distribution and ecology.

This subspecies occurs in the Mojave Desert and southern Great Basin (Figure 49), 1000 km south of nominate P.yakama. Specimens have been examined from Garfield and Kane counties of southern Utah, Clark County of southern Nevada, Mohave County in northwestern Arizona, and east of the Coachella Valley in Riverside County, California. The identity of a few populations of superficially similar moths from west of the Coachella Valley remain uncertain. California specimens are therefore excluded from the type series. The apparent large separation of the ranges of the two P.yakama subspecies could potentially be an artifact related to limited collection in the Great Basin during the spring flight period of this species.

Larvae of P.y.mojave (Fig. 24a, b) have been collected and reared to adults by DLW on Brickelliaatractyloides A. Gray in the Hualapai Mountains of Arizona and Brickelliaoblongifolia in Nevada. The following description is modified from a work on the larvae of western North American moths (DL Wagner, unpublished):

Ova are placed deep inside the discoid flower heads and the early instars are internal feeders on flowers as they are going to seed. Molting occurs inside the flower head and, as the larvae progress, frass is present externally on some flowers. Larvae leave the flowers as they become spoiled, and later instars rest on stems and seed heads and feed externally on multiple flowers. The early instars are pale with red spotting and a pale supraspiracular stripe.

Penultimate instars (Figure 24a) are similar, but the ground color is green. Red spotting is reduced, remaining most prominent on the thoracic segments. The supraspiracular stripe is better developed.

The last instar is greenish red with well-defined pale mid-dorsal, subdorsal, and lateral stripes. Minute red spots develop diffusely over the course of this stage such that the larva changes from green similar to the penultimate larva initially, to more or less pink through the second half of the instar (Figure 24b). The subdorsal stripe is twice as thick as the mid-dorsal stripe. A faint diffuse supraspiracular stripe extends A1–A8. The lateral (spiracular) stripe begins at A1 and continues to the base of the A10 proleg. The spiracles are black. The primary setae are not borne from white pinacula as in other members of the P.tepperi species-group.

The larvae of P.y.mojave are similar to those of P.mimica, which feeds exclusively on Brickelliacalifornica (Torr. & A. Gray) A. Gray throughout its range. Its larva differs from P.y.mojave in that the lateral stripe is often cream or yellow rather than white, the subdorsal stripe is well developed, the mid-dorsal stripe is thin, and the larva is thickened through the thoracic segments.

Plagiomimicusy.mojave is at least partially double brooded, flying in late spring and again in early fall in areas where food plants flower in the spring and fall.

Plagiomimicusincomitatus (Figs 15, 16) can be recognized by the combination of small size (FW length 11–13 mm), pale yellow tan color, undulating brown forewing transverse lines, and S-shaped forewing outer margin with pointed apex. It is the only species in the P.tepperi species-group that has a large indistinct dark reniform stigma. Males (Figure 20) have short peg-like ampullae similar to those of P.yakama, but these are thicker in P.incomitatus. Females of P.incomitatus (Figure 23) are distinguished by having a long corpus bursae with a strong bend, but are best identified by forewing shape and maculation.

Incomitatus is Latin, meaning “unaccompanied” or “alone.” It refers both to the single known locality for this species as well as the solitude of its collector, Norris Bloomfield, during long collecting trips on behalf of SDMC in Baja California in the late 1980s.

Distribution and ecology.

Plagiomimicusincomitatus is only known from the type locality near the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula, Mexico (Figure 49). The habitat is a dry arroyo in Baja desert. All specimens were collected with black light in late December. The early stages are unknown.

Discussion.

Plagiomimicusincomitatus is classified in the P.tepperi species-group based the lack of the corona and basal patch of cornuti in the male genitalia. It resembles the other species in the group.

The moth fauna of the Baja Peninsula is poorly known, especially compared with that of adjacent southern California. Of what is known, much is due to Norris Bloomfield who made several collecting trips to the area during the 1980s on behalf of the San Diego Natural History Museum. Although the majority of the Noctuoidea collected by him also occur in southern California, he also encountered many species that are only known from southern parts of Arizona, New Mexico, or Texas, as well as some not known from the United States. Plagiomimicusincomitatus is one of the latter species, currently only known from the type locality. The apparent rarity of this moth might be due the lack of collecting in this region as well as its late December flight period.

Oncocnemidinae Forbes & Franclemont, 1954Sympistis Hübner, 1823

Troubridge (2008) reviewed the genus Sympistis for North America north of Mexico. He named 50 new species and figured adults of 177 species. Although it is not a detailed revision of all species-groups, this paper is seminal in defining the genus. Eleven genera were placed in synonymy, including Oncocnemis Lederer that previously contained the majority of the species. Sympistis species are most numerous in western North America.

According to Troubridge (op. cit.) Sympistis is associated with the subfamily Oncocnemidinae by a horizontal transverse foramen across the first abdominal tergite dorsal to the tympanum. The structural features most diagnostic of the genus are found in the female: a corona of stout setae at the apex of the papilla analis and a large appendix bursae that functionally replaces the absent or small corpus bursae. The genus is diverse, and these structures are lost or modified in some species-groups. Most species have a claw-like foretibial seta, an adaptation to living in arid climates.

Male structures of Sympistis were not defined specifically by Troubridge other than noting that they are more uniform than those of the females. Typically, they have a simple strap-like valve with a weak sacculus. Most species-groups have a scoop-shaped distal valve lacking a differentiated cucullus but bearing a setal corona; the distal valve is bifurcated asymmetrically in the Sympistisbadistriga species-group. The base of the clasper is weak, but a thorn-like ampulla variably positioned along the ventral valve is a prominent feature in all species-groups. The digitus is lacking except in the Sympistisfortis and Sympistischionanti species-groups. The phallus is tubular with a bent or spiraled vesica bearing one or more elongate patches of spine-like cornuti, often with a single stout cornutus or patch of longer cornuti at the apex.

Sympistisferrirena (Figs 25, 26) resembles S.dunbari (Figure 27) and S.definita (Figure 28). Sympistisdefinita occurs predominantly in the Great Basin and Colorado but has been collected with S.ferrirena in Arizona. Sympistisdunbari occurs west of S.ferrirena near the West Coast. Sympistisferrirena is slightly larger (forewing length greater than 14 mm in S.ferrirena, less in the other two species) and can be distinguished by its smooth thick black transverse lines and large reniform stigma with brick-red filling. The antemedial and postmedial lines of S.ferrirena are straight or curved smoothly from the cubital vein to the posterior margin and lack an outer black component. The corresponding lines of S.dunbari and S.definita are toothed on the veins and double with two black components. The reniform stigmata of these species are smaller and contain fewer reddish scales than that of S.ferrirena.

The male genitalia of S.ferrirena (Figure 29) and S.definita (Figure 30) are similar. The distal valve of S.ferrirena tapers more than that of S.definita. The sacculus of S.ferrirena is narrower relative to valve length: 0.10 × compared to 0.16 × for S.definita. The anterior (concave surface) cornuti on the vesica of S.ferrirena are longer and much stouter than those of the posterior patch; this distinction is less dramatic in S.definita.

The female corpus bursae and appendix bursae of S.ferrirena (Figure 31) are similar in size and shape. In S.dunbari and S.definita the appendix bursae is smaller and more curved than in S.ferrirena.

The DNA barcode of S.ferrirena (BOLD:AAU2696; n = 3) differs from those of S.dunbari (BOLD:AAE1138) and S.definita (BOLD:AAE5103) by at least 4.0 %.

Mustelin and Crabo (2015) revised the genus Aseptis McDunnough. It contains 16 species from the United States and northern Mexico west of the Great Plains, with the greatest diversity in California. Aseptis species occur most commonly in steppe, desert, or shrub habitats.

Most Aseptis species are fairly nondescript, medium-sized (wingspan 27.5–45.0 mm), gray or gray-brown moths. Despite their dull appearance they can usually be identified as belonging to the genus by the combination of eyes devoid of setae and the presence of a concave segment of the hindwing margin between veins M1 and M3. Many Aseptis species, including the one described herein, have a pale postreniform patch distal to the reniform stigma that is more conspicuous than the stigma.

Structural features of the genus are detailed in the revision. Males have a thin curved uncus, a strap-like valve with weak sacculus, simple curved ampulla of the clasper, a thin pointed digitus oblique to the valve, and a weak cucullus bearing a simple corona. The vesica of the phallus is bulbous with a stout distal cornutus directed basad. Females have a triangular papilla analis, a membranous ductus bursae, and a bilobed corpus bursae with a sack-like or weakly bilobed appendix bursae.

A key to Aseptis adults was presented in Mustelin and Crabo (2015: 62–65). Males of A.harpi sp. n. will key out to Couplet 11 and females to Couplet 21. In order to include all Aseptis species the key can be modified by replacing those couplets with the following:

11

Claviform stigma short, not extending distal to mid-medial area; subterminal line ochre to tan, undulating, not extended on veins; widespread in western North America

Forewing postmedial line posterior to reniform stigma faint, when visible filled with similar color as adjacent medial and postmedial areas; digitus of male valve oriented 50° to valve; Arizona and California

Aseptisharpi (Figure 32) is most likely to be confused with Aseptisserrula (Barnes and McDunnough, 1918) (Figure 33) and Aseptissusquesa (Smith, 1908) (Figure 34). Both of these similar species are from the deserts of southern California, southern Nevada, and Arizona. Although neither species is known currently from Utah, they could potentially occur with A.harpi near the Arizona-Utah border.

DNA barcodes suggest that A.serrula is the closest relative to A.harpi. Males are distinguished easily because the antenna of A.harpi is filiform, whereas that of A.serrula is serrate. Aseptisharpi has a lighter, more mottled, and more colorful forewing than A.serrula, with patches of pale gray and orange tan rather than powdery dark gray. The hindwing of A.harpi is gray distal to the postmedial line, whereas the entire hindwing of A.serrula is whitish.

Superficially, Aseptisharpi most closely resembles Aseptissusquesa. Both species have narrow male antennae and forewings with patches of orange brown. The forewing spots and postmedial and subterminal lines of A.harpi are more sharply defined and conspicuous than in A.susquesa. Pale filling of the postmedial line and whitish “W” marks of the subterminal line on veins below the apex and on M3 and CuA1 are particularly prominent in A.harpi. Hindwing color differences between these species are similar to those between A.harpi and A.serrula.

The male genitalia of A.harpi (Figure 35), A.serrula (Figure 36), and A.susquesa (Figure 37) are similar. The angle between the digitus and the valve is narrower in A.harpi than in the others, approximately 30° in A.harpi compared to nearly 50° in the other species. The digitus of A.harpi extends a shorter distance below the valve than in the other species.

Females of can be identified by characters of the papillae anales. The papilla analis of Aseptisharpi (Figure 38) has a single short apical process and lacks long basal setae. That of Aseptisserrula (Figure 39) has a finger-like apical process with adjacent scale-like tubercles and a dense basal collar of long seta. Aseptissusquesa (Figure 40) lacks an apical process and has few very long setae at the base. The appendix bursae of A.harpi is longer than those of the other two species.

The barcode of A.harpi (BOLD:ADH0685; n = 2) differs from those of A.serrula and A.susquesa by approximately 5 %. Aseptisharpi and A.serrula form a sister pair closest to Aseptiscatalina (Smith) on a similarity tree. Major haplotypes of other Aseptis species are listed in Mustelin and Crabo (2015: 59–60).

The eponym honors Chuck Harp of Littleton, Colorado who recognized this moth as an undescribed species and brought it to our attention. Most of the known specimens of this species have been collected by him.

Distribution and ecology.

Aseptisharpi has a limited range in eastern and southeastern Utah (Figure 48). It has been collected in the red rock country of Garfield, Grand, and San Juan counties. The habitat is shrub steppe. Collection dates are from May and early June.

The early stages are unknown. The larva is probably a climbing cutworm that feeds on woody shrubs based on the habits of other Aseptis species (Mustelin and Crabo 2015).

Discussion.

The discovery of this species is a surprise to us since we revised Aseptis recently (Mustelin and Crabo 2015). No new species were recognized at the time, although two new genera were described and the number of recognized species was reduced significantly.

Eriopygini Fibiger & Lafontaine, 2005Hypotrix Guenée, 1852

Hypotrix Guenée is a moderately large genus of New World moths distributed from the American Southwest to South America. The thirteen previously known species in the United States were revised less than a decade ago (Lafontaine et al. 2010). The genus is diverse, both in external appearance and structure, and is difficult to define concisely. The most diagnostic character is the female papilla analis, swollen basally with rapid taper to a point. The eye is covered with hairs similar those of most genera in the Eriopygini. Tibial spines are variable between species. Males often have brushes on sternites A1 and A8. The uncus is expanded. The distal valve has either a triangular cucullus demarcated from the valve by a ventral notch and bearing a corona and ventral spine, or has a reduced cucullus with a vestigial or absent corona. The sacculus has a sclerotized ventral part and a membranous ventral flap that overlaps adjacent structures. The vesica of the phallus is long, coiled, and bears several groups of cornuti. In addition to the distinct papilla analis, the female has a sclerotized tubular ductus bursae, a membranous bulbous corpus bursae, and a long spiraled appendix bursae (op. cit.).

A fourteenth American Hypotrix species from Arizona is described below. This moth, although similar structurally to Hypotrixhueco (Barnes, 1904), is strikingly patterned olive green and pure white, unlike any other species in the genus.

Hypotrixlactomellis sp. n. (Figs 41, 42) is a distinctive moth. No other species in the tribe Eriopygini has a similar olive and pure white forewing. It is more likely be confused with a Schinia Hübner (Heliothinae), such as the silver and olive-gray species allied to Schiniacumatilis (Grote), or a species of Acontiinae. The eye of Hypotrix is hairy, lacking hairs in these look-alikes.

Structurally, H.lactomellis is most similar to Hypotrixhueco (Figs 43, 45, 47). Despite the close relationship suggested by the genitalia, these moths could not be more un-alike in appearance. Hypotrixhueco is mottled red brown like many moths from pine forest habitats.

The barcode of H.lactomellis (BOLD:ACO7143) is most similar to that of H.hueco (BOLD:AAI8440), differing by 4.5 %.

The species name is from Latin lacteus, meaning of milk, and mellis, honey. Milk and honey are suggested by the colors of the moth.

Distribution and ecology.

Hypotrixlactomellis (Fig. 49) occurs in central eastern Arizona and adjacent New Mexico in the United States, with the majority of examined specimens from Arizona near the Little Colorado River. A single specimen at the CNC from the Sierra Madre Oriental in northeastern Mexico indicates that it is much more widespread than suggested by the United States records. It is a seldom-collected moth but can be common when encountered.

The flight period is late July. The early stages are unknown. Like other species in the genus, H.lactomellis is nocturnal and comes to light.

Discussion.

The bicolored olive and white habitus of this moth is unusual. Although Hypotrix is highly diverse in color and pattern, illustrated in Lafontaine et al. (2010), this species is unlike any other in the genus. Although eye-catching in a museum specimen, the color and pattern might be cryptic against a plant with lacy silver green foliage, such as sage (Artemisia spp., Asteraceae).

This work would not be possible without the encouragement and assistance of J. Donald Lafontaine. He suggested topics of investigation, performed dissections, submitted DNA samples to BOLD, and shared type photographs. He and Chris Schmidt hosted the senior author on several trips to Ottawa.

For Plagiomimicus: Gary Parsons photographed the syntypes of Schiniatepperi. The San Diego Natural History Museum loaned specimens to Tomas Mustelin. Michael Pogue gave expert advice and performed dissections of P.incomitatus. David Wagner shared information regarding the larva of Plagiomimicus from a work in progress on western caterpillars. Dave Wikle’s work on Plagiomimicus early stages was performed under permits to him and Paul Opler for Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Utah (UT-030) and Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Nevada (NV-052).

We are grateful to Chuck Harp for bringing the new Aseptis species to our attention and for specimen donations.

Special gratitude is owed Jocelyn Gill. She worked cheerfully and tirelessly to prepare all illustrations, including specimen preparation and photography.

Don Lafontaine and Nathalie Yonow made numerous editorial suggestions that improved the manuscript.

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